Ombudsman participated in the Council of Europe and European Union online meeting

On July 31, the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Sabina Aliyeva participated in the “Online meeting on good practices of co-operation among civil society organizations on non-discrimination and between civil society and the Ombuds institutions” jointly organized by the Council of Europe and European Union.

This meeting was held in the frame of the regional project “Strengthening access to justice through non-judiciary redress mechanisms for victims of discrimination, hate crime and hate speech in Eastern Partnership countries”. The meeting brought together the Head of the European Union Delegation in Azerbaijan, Deputy Head of the Council of Europe Field Office in Baku, experts of NGOs fighting discrimination in the Ukraine and Georgia, as well as civil society organizations.  

In her speech, the Ombudsman pointed out that the current COVID-19 pandemic poses a real threat to all mankind. From the first days of this challenging time, the Ombudsman addressed a Message with regard to protecting the rights and providing the basic needs of the vulnerable population groups, including PWDs, migrants and children to all relevant governmental stakeholders. 

It was also stated that throughout the pandemic period, the Ombudsman Office regularly held online meetings in rural areas to study the human rights situation there. At the same time, such meetings were organized by the Ombudsman’s regional centers for local community and national minority representatives.       

Ombudsman said that in the beginning of this year, the Ombudsman, CoE and EU jointly organized a seminar-training titled “Anti-discrimination in practice for the field officers of the Ombudsman Office of Azerbaijan” in Guba for all staff members of the Office and with participation of members of CSOs and national minorities of that region. She also noted that the outcomes of this training were discussed further with CoE members. 

The Ombudsman added that seven staff members of the Ombudsman were involved in online CoE courses on anti-discrimination and learned experience of international experts.

Stressing the importance of the cooperation with NGOs and CSOs, the Ombudsman underlined the historically existed tolerant environment in Azerbaijan where people with various backgrounds were always treated equally with others. In that vein, not only citizens of Azerbaijan, bur also aliens and stateless persons may appeal to the Ombudsman.   

Once more reiterating the UN Secretary General’s appeal about pulling back from hostilities to the world community, the Ombudsman expressed her deep concern about the recent Armenian military provocations at the state border of Azerbaijan and Armenia in the direction of Tovuz district of our republic, committed in violation of International Law norms and principles and escalated tensions resulted in civilian and military casualties. 

She also said that after her fact-finding mission to Tovuz district, she gathered the necessary facts and evidences of human rights violations, she issued Interim Reports about the findings and addressed to all international organizations and NHRIs. 

The Ombudsman underlined also that she has issued a Statement condemning the recent Armenian provocations against peaceful Azerbaijani protestors in various countries of the world. 

The event was continued with interactive discussions of mutual cooperation of the Ombudsman Office and CSOs and the Ombudsman answered the questions of the participants.